5 Ways to Give Your Physical Health Some TLC

5 Ways to Give Your Physical Health Some TLC

November is here!

November = the beginning of My Happiness Project and I am SO motivated and excited to get started. As outlined here, my first month is focused on my Physical Health. Starting off focusing on my physical health will be a great jumpstart for this year ahead. I’ll close out November feeling refreshed, more energetic, and more motivated.

To start everything off, this month I will be abstaining from caffeine and alcohol.

And surprisingly enough, I’m actually looking forward to it. My reason for taking a break from these two substances is quite simple, they’re not the best for you. If I’m truly focusing on my health, I want it to be across all aspects. Plus, I’m one of those people who can’t have my morning coffee without a heaping spoonful of sugar, and I’m a sucker for a venti caramel macchiato (with extra caramel–yikes). When I started working in a restaurant and caffeine became part of my daily routine, I quickly realized how much that extra sugar and caffeine was affecting me, and how dependent I was on that mid-day boost.

On top of that initial cleanse, I have my 5 resolutions!

Resolution 1: Meal Prep Weekly

I’m finally getting a hang of the whole cooking thing (kinda), but it’s so worthwhile to cook my own meals. And since I’m such a picky eater, it’s EASY. I’ll cook everything up on my day off on Monday, and I’ll have lunches and dinners to pack and bring with me to work. I’ve already been incorporating meal prepping into my routine and I’ve loved it so far. This month I want to be consistent with it, and get as much out of it as I can. No food goes to waste!

Resolution 2: Exercise at least 3 days per week

I know this is probably the biggest cliche in the book, but I used to be so in shape. So motivated and hard-working and dedicated to my progress blah blah blah. Somewhere in the last three years I totally fell off of that wagon, and I MISS IT. I’ve been slowly getting back into lifting and very slowly getting back into cardio. And surprise surprise, I am in love with how I feel after each workout. This month is about consistency, and thanks to my new gym buddy (and the AMAZING boxing classes we just signed up for), getting in my weekly workouts will be as easy as ever.

Resolution 3: Get More sleep

As much as it bothers me, I’ve accepted that I’m not one of those people who can have a perfectly productive day off of 5 hours of sleep. Would I love to get up at 5am and start my day? Heck yea I would. But right now, I know that if I don’t get my 7-8 hours, I’m in for a long day ahead. That’s why I want to focus on sleep this month, and really listen to my body when it needs rest. It might mean skipping out on some weekend plans or *actually* shutting off my phone once that Netflix episode ends, but I know it will be beneficial for my body.

Resolution 4: Hair, Skin, Nails

I’ve seriously been neglecting hair and skin care. My hair was recently bleached so it’s more fragile than normal, and I tend to use a lot of heat on my hair. I’ll be taking some time for deep conditioning treatments and laying off the hot-tools, and if I do need to use them, use a protectant spray. My skin – same thing. I wear makeup most days, and after a long shift at work, the last thing I want to do is spend 15 minutes huddled over the sink taking off mascara and scrubbing my face. But, I know that my skin has been suffering from my laziness. Each day I’ll give my skin the attention it deserves. When it comes to nails, I’m a sucker for a gel mani. I got them back to back for months this summer without letting my nails breathe and recover from the process, so I’m taking a step back from the glamorous mani’s and going old school. Keeping them short, filed, and moisturized will give them some necessary rest.

Resolution 5: Water

As almost everyone in my life can tell you, I’m horrible at hydrating. My boyfriend has to nudge me all day to finish a glass of water with lunch or dinner. Upping my water intake throughout the day will surely help me improve my physical health. The benefits of drinking enough water are endless. Better skin complexion, more energy, weight loss promotion, improved immune system are just a few. And those all sound good to me! I’ll have my trusty camelbak by my side at all times to remind me to get sipping.

That closes out my November resolutions! I can’t wait to see what the rest of this month has in store. Let me know if you use any of these tips to focus on your own Physical Health!